Arlington, Virginia has claimed the title of America’s fittest city for the eighth consecutive year, according to the 2025 American Fitness Index released by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in partnership with the Elevance Health Foundation. The metro region’s consistent success highlights strong personal health outcomes, low smoking rates, abundant recreational infrastructure, and extensive community support for active living.
Washington, D.C. secured the second position for the third year running, followed by Seattle, San Francisco, and Denver rounding out the top five. Arlington outperformed peers in both key evaluative categories—Personal Health and Community + Environment—marking it as the only jurisdiction to lead in both sectors in 2025.
The 2025 index reveals that roughly 59.9% of city residents across the 100 largest cities met ACSM’s aerobic guidelines, a notable rise from 50.9% in 2024. Moreover, 89 cities reported an average 7.6% increase in residents meeting both aerobic and strength activity recommendations. Smoking rates declined in 73 cities by an average of 2.6% and 64 increased per capita park funding by around $48.
Still, the report flags concerning developments: cities nationally saw declines in air quality and increases in food insecurity. Nearly all cities reported more residents experiencing food insecurity, likely tied to the end of COVID-era assistance programs such as the expanded Child Tax Credit. Wildfire smoke, particularly affecting the Northeast and Great Lakes, contributed to poorer air quality overall.
Arlington earned a combined score of 85.7—far above the national average of about 50.8—and led indicators like resident-reported excellent or very good health (67.2%), sleep (76.4% sleeping 7+ hours), and the lowest smoking prevalence (3.3%). The area also boasted high access to recreation, including the sixth-most pickleball and tennis courts per 20,000 residents.
Washington, D.C. ranked second overall by leveraging an extensive trail network—235.3 miles per 100,000 residents, the nation’s highest—and robust fruit and vegetable consumption rates. Residents also enjoy high levels of active commuting via walking, biking, and public transit.
Seattle claimed the No. 3 spot thanks to a strong outdoor culture, high personal health rankings, and infrastructure supporting active lifestyles despite a wetter climate.
San Francisco continued to perform strongly, buoyed by low obesity rates, excellent transit connectivity, and density that encourages walking and biking.
Denver moved up to No. 5 for the first time, reflecting gains in exercise participation as well as scenic parks and trails. However, its air quality challenges—due in part to drought and wildfires—remain an issue for residents’ health.
ACSM President Dr. Stella Volpe and Dr. Shantanu Agrawal of the Elevance Health Foundation underscore the importance of coordinated infrastructure, health equity initiatives, and policy support in sustaining the observed momentum. Volpe noted that small changes like incremental trail improvements or healthier community design could help cities emulate Arlington and drive better health outcomes.
Agrawal stressed that while improvements in physical activity are heartening, broader socio-environmental issues—particularly food insecurity and poor air quality—pose growing barriers to community health. He encouraged policymakers to invest strategically in public health infrastructure and guard against the rollback of vital support programs.
The 2025 ACSM Fitness Index reinforces that sustained urban investments—trail networks, safe streets, parks, and programming—can catalyze healthier, more active cities. It also signals that health disparities linger without attention to social drivers such as food access, environmental quality, and economic stability.
As health professionals and civic leaders promote active living, the index offers a data-rich roadmap. Cities climbing the ranks like Richmond, Plano, and Fort Wayne highlight how targeted interventions can yield meaningful gains.
Looking ahead, cities ranking below the top tier can draw inspiration from Arlington’s combination of smart planning, recreational accessibility and community health awareness, while also addressing systemic challenges like air pollution and rising food hardship.
